CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at NEAS, Short Term Residential Breaks
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood people's needs, managed risks, followed medicine procedures and had the right training and recruitment checks. Minor infection-control problems were identified and fixed during the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was not given in this report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. The report's overall findings said people received kind and compassionate care, but no separate rating was given.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. The report described care tailored to people's needs and interests, but no separate rating was given.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear leadership, good oversight from the acting manager and a culture that valued people's individuality, rights and feedback.
What inspectors found, May 2023
NEAS, Short Term Residential Breaks was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised short-break care, with minor infection-control issues fixed during the visit.
This was an unannounced inspection on 14 and 17 March 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives and staff. They observed care and checked care records, medicine records, risk assessments, recruitment files and management records.
The home supported autistic people and people with learning disabilities who came for short breaks. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and dignity, and supported to make choices, take part in activities and pursue their interests.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Infection-control practice was mostly satisfactory, but inspectors identified problems with storing personal protective equipment and clean linen, and with staff being bare below the elbows during personal care. The home fixed these issues during the inspection.
The previous overall rating was Good, published in December 2017. This inspection looked only at Safe and Well-led. The other key-question ratings were not inspected and the overall rating used the previous inspection ratings where needed.
Personalised support
Staff focused on what people could do and supported their choices, interests and activities. Care was tailored to people's needs and aspirations.
“Staff focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had an enjoyable stay when they came to the service.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found that staff protected people's privacy and dignity and responded to their individual needs with compassion.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Staff numbers and skills matched people's needs. Medicine systems, recruitment checks and safeguarding arrangements were found to be safe.
“The numbers and skills of staff matched the needs of people using the service.” from the report
Good leadership
The acting manager had good oversight while the registered manager was absent. Staff said they felt supported and listened to.
“The acting manager had the skills and knowledge to perform their role, a clear understanding of people's needs, and good oversight of the service they were managing on an interim basis.” from the report
Minor infection-control shortfalls
minorInspectors were only somewhat assured about the layout and hygiene practices. They identified issues with storing personal protective equipment and clean linen, and staff not being bare below the elbows during personal care. These were corrected during the inspection.
“The provider took immediate action to rectify these issues during the inspection.” from the report
- 01How will you assess whether my relative is compatible with other people sharing a lodge?
- 02How will you support my relative's communication, sensory needs, choices and independence during their break?
- 03What infection-control checks are now in place for storing personal protective equipment and clean linen?
- 04Who will manage the home when the registered manager is absent, and how will families be kept informed?
- 05How do you record and review medicines, risks and incidents during each person's stay?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected, and the overall rating used previous ratings where needed. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 May 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, December 2017
NEAS, Short Term Residential Breaks was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was an announced inspection on 25 October and 2 November 2017. Inspectors spoke with people using the service, relatives and staff. They observed care and checked care plans, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home provided short-term respite breaks for up to seven people with autism and learning disabilities. Inspectors found that risks were managed, medicines were safely handled and staffing matched people's assessed needs. Staff had relevant training and supported people's choices, health, diet and independence.
Relatives gave very positive feedback. Inspectors saw warm and respectful care, detailed support plans and activities suited to people's interests. The registered manager and provider used checks, feedback and audits to monitor the service.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection in September 2015.
Managing risks
The home assessed risks before each person stayed and reviewed them on each visit. Staff knew how to reduce risks and respond when someone became distressed.
“Risks to people using the service were identified and well managed to help keep people safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw caring interactions and examples of staff adapting support to individual preferences. People were treated with dignity and were encouraged to be independent.
“Throughout our inspection we saw numerous examples of caring, warm but professional interactions between staff and people using the service.” from the report
Personalised planning
Support plans included detailed routines, communication methods, preferences and ways to help people manage anxiety. Families and other professionals contributed to reviews.
“People received personalised support that was responsive to their needs.” from the report
Trained and supported staff
Staff completed relevant induction and training, including autism-specific training and medicines checks. They also received regular supervision and appraisals.
“Staff were equipped to support and meet people's needs effectively through their induction and mandatory training.” from the report
Activities and links
People could use activities and facilities including music, crafts, gardening, outdoor areas and a nearby sensory garden. Some people could also access an onsite day centre.
“Some people who stayed for breaks were supported to access activities and education in a day centre located at the same site.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's risks before each short-term stay?
- 02How will staff communicate with my relative and support their individual routines and preferences?
- 03How will you manage my relative's medicines, including checking supplies brought from home?
- 04What activities could my relative take part in during a break, including any day-centre, garden or sensory activities?
- 05How will you support my relative's diet, healthcare needs and any behaviour that may cause distress?
This was an announced inspection covering the overall service and all five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 December 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of NEAS, Short Term Residential Breaks
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at NEAS, Short Term Residential Breaks →
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at NEAS, Short Term Residential Breaks →
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 August 2013.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.